By announcing his retirement on his own terms, the actor takes back the power.
Willis was always sharp, always fast.
Now, at age 67, he will be those things forever.
Bruce Willis as Butch Coolidge in ‘The Sixth Sense.'.Miramax/Buena Vista/Kobal/Shutterstock
you might feel Butch chafing at being called a palooka.
It’s just a split-second, but it may be the moment when he secretly decides to go rogue.
Die Hardturned Willis into a new kind of action hero, more pliable than any Stallone or Schwarzenegger.
Bruce Willis in ‘The Sixth Sense’.Ron Phillips/Hollywood/Kobal/Shutterstock
(See also Eddie Murphy inBeverly Hills Cop.
)But Willis makes it a joy with every wince and complaint.
It’s only because he’s so vulnerable and mouthy that Alan Rickman can be so glacially terrifying.
The essence of Willis is verbal, smirking, unshaven.
There’s a great manic comic performance somewhere in Willis that he relentlessly chased when he was busiest.
How can you blame him?
He teased, brayed, and let himself be embarrassed.
He’s a comedian-turned-action star, and a comedian first.
Willis is the reasonThe Sixth Senseworks.
Let’s not mourn him, because that would be premature.
